Electrical switching device with retractable actuator



Feb. 8, 1966 H. JURCZYK 3,234,341

ELECTRICAL SWITCHING DEVICE WITH RETRACTABLE ACTUATOR Filed June 15,1961 United States Patent 3,234,341 ELECTRICAL SWITCHING DEVICE WITHRETRACTABLE ACTUATQR Helmut Jurc'zyk, Moline, Ill., assignor toMontgomery Elevator Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 15,1961, Ser. No. 117,406 12 Claims. (Cl. 200-47) This invention relates toan electrical switching device, and more particularly to anelectromechanical switching device having switch actuating arms whichmay occupy either an extended, dynamic position or a retracted staticposition in which they are retained by auxiliary switch arm controlmechanism.

There are many types of electromechanical controls in which a switch armis moved by contact with a mechanical device such as a plunger, cam,lever, or the like. In many situations it is desirable to have a switcharm which is contacted by a cam under certain conditions of operation,while in other circumstances the switch arm is so positioned that thecam does not strike it.

Such a switch arrangement may be used, for example, in an elevatorcontrol circuit where selector elements are positioned in an elevatorhatchway to be contacted by a cam member on the elevator car as the carpasses the switch; or in the more common arrangement where a controllerin the elevator penthouse has a travelling actuator which controls carslowdown, stopping, illumination of hall signal lanterns, and the like,in response to operation of a car call button at a floor landing. When aswitch actuating arm is retracted, the elevator or actuator passeswithout contacting the arm. When an elevaor call button at a particularfloor is pressed momentarily it may cause several switch actuating armsto move to their extended positions, and on the next approach of theelevator car, or travelling actuator, the extended switch arms arecontacted so as to illuminate the car signal lantern on the floor whereservice is desired, to slow the car in several steps, and stop it levelwith the floor.

Another specific example of a typical application of the present deviceis in automatic programming using rotary control cams. Assume a machinethat must go through three cycles without performing a particularoperation and beginning with the fourth cycle must perform thatoperation for one or more cycles. A switching device having two switcheswith retractable and extendable actuating arms is positioned so that arotary control cam lobe passes in spaced relation to a retractedactuating arm, but may contact the extended arm. Between the third andfourth machine cycles the actuating arms are extended, and as long asthey remain extended the movement of one of the arms by the cam lobecauses the machine to perform the required operation on each cycle. Whenthe time for repetitively performing the operation ceases, a cam maymove the second actuating arm to return both arms to retracted position.

There are many other applications in the control and signaling fieldsfor switching devices of the type here disclosed.

The primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide animproved switching device having one or more switch arms which mayoccupy an extended, operative position, or a retracted inoperativeposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedelectromechanical switching device in which two or more switch arms maybe independently moved between extended, dynamic and retracted, staticpositions, or may be moved simultaneously between said positions bymovement of a single switch arm retainer bar.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an electromechanicalswitching device the structure of which permits it to be used for a widevariety of control func- 3,234,341 Patented Feb. 8, 1966 tions, many ofwhich may not be easily performed by any single unit available on themarket.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view illustrating an embodiment of aswitching device, in accordance with the invention, and in a retractedposition;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the switching device;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially as illustrated alongthe line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, with parts broken away for clearerillustration;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but with the switching device inan extended position;

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical circuit utilizing theswitching device;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of a switching device, inaccordance with the invention, with parts broken away for clearerillustration; and,

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the switchingdevice, in accordance with the invention, with parts broken away forclearer illustration.

The invention is, in brief, directed to an electromechanical switchingdevice having a plurality of electrical switches each actuable betweenopen and closed positions in response to movement of actuators betweenretracted and extended positions. These actuators are mechanicallymovable to their retracted position, and electrically movable to theirextended position.

Referring to FIGURES 1-4 of the drawings, an electromechanical switchingdevice includes a pair of electrical switch units 10 and 11, and anelectrical actuator, indicated generally at 12, which comprises anoperating solenoid secured to the switches by a mounting plate 12b toprovide a rigid body. The switches may be of any suitable type, and areherein illustrated with housings 10a and 11a, respectively, each havinga pair of outwardly extending, parallel flanges 13. Within each housingare conventional switch contacts, which may be either normally open ornormally closed.

The switch contacts of each switch unit are actuable between open andclosed positions by a mechanical actuator including an arm 14 with ears14a at its lower end pivotally carried on a pivot pin 15 that extendsthrough the flanges 13. A plunger 16 is telescoped in the switch bodyand loosely connected with an intermediate portion of arm 14, as by aheaded reduced end portion 17 extending through a hole in the arm. Eachactuator is individually movable between a retracted static position inwhich arm 14 is adjacent the switch housing as in FIGURES 1-3, and anextended dynamic position in which the arm 14 is pivoted away from theswitch housing as in FIGURE 4.

Each actuator is resiliently urged toward its extended position by anactuator compression spring 18 telescoped on plunger 16 between arm 14and the switch housing. The .springs 18 urge arms 14 into engagementwith a retainer bar 20 which extends across all arms 14 outwardly of theswitch bodies. Bar 20 is fixedly connected with the outer end of a rod21, the opposite end of which is secured to a plunger 22 of solenoid 12.When solenoid 12 is deenergizcd plunger 22 is resiliently urged to theright as seen in FIGURE 3 by asolenoid compression spring 23 receivedbetween plunger 22 and solenoid mounting plate 12b, thus holding bar 20in a retracted position which holds arms 14 in their retractedpositions. When solenoid 12. is energized it overcomes the force exertedby spring 23 and thus moves plunger 22 and bar 20 to the extendedposition shown in FIG- URE 4, so that the actuator springs 18 may movearms 14 to their extended positions.

With reference to FIGURE 5, solenoid 12 is energized momentarily byclosing a switch 25. In the preferred embodiment switch is closed whenits actuator is in the extended position and. provides a holding circuitmaintaining solenoid 12 energized after switch is opened.

Each. arm 14. may be retracted by a mechanical element such as'a cam 26engaging a cam follower roller 210ml the arm 14. When the actuator armof switch 11 is retracted the: switch contacts ofthis switch may be.either opened or closed, depending on its construction. However, when.the actuator arm of switch 10' is retracted, the holding circuit forsolenoid 12 is deenergized and spring 23 retracts bar 20, which retractsall actuators.

For simplicity the drawings illustrate only twoswi-tches 10 and 11; butit is plain that the switching device may include severalswitches, oneof which controls a solenoid holding circuit.

Reterringtofthe embodiment of FIGURE 6-, the same reference numeralsindicate similar parts. This embodiment is substantially the same as theforegoing embodiment except that, a magnetic, soft iron armature isprovided in lieuof solenoid mounting plate 12b, solenoid 12 is-secureddirectly toopposed sides oi switch units 10 and l1, and plunger rod 21and retaining bar 20 are non-magnetic material, such as brass or aluminum; Also, a magnet, here in the form ofa permanent magnet 31, isrigidly secured on. the outer side of bar 20, at the outer end of rod21'. As previously described, upon momentarily energizing solenoid 12,

plunger 22. moves bar 20' to its extended position, (not shown).armature 30 so that the force of actuator springs 18 urging arms 14 totheir extended positions against bar 20- is sufiicient to prevent themagnet 31 from moving towardthe armature. When both, arms 14, areretracted, as by cam-s 26 engaging rollers 27, or by a cam or othermechanical device bearing directly on bar 20' or magnet 31 to movemagnet 31 toward armature 3t), magnet 31 is drawn. toward and held byarmature 30, as illustrated in FIGURE 6;

The necessary balance between the magnetic force tending to latch theretainer bar in retracted position, the force of solenoid 12' forunlatching the bar, and the force of springs 18 tending. to hold the barin extended position, may be balanced by calibration of springs 18, bythe thickness of non-magnetic bar 20', or by a nonmagnetic. collar 32.on rod 21' which may be of any required thickness.

Spacing magnet 31 from solenoid 12 prevents the solenoid from adverselyaffecting the magnet, and the force between the magnet and armature 30ismore constant in extended and retracted positions since they do nottouch.

In FIGURE 7 an embodiment similar to that of FIG- URE 6 is illustratedand the same reference numerals refer to similar parts. In thisembodiment a non-magnetic bar 20" is hinged at its mid-point to the endof a non-magnetic rod 21' for free pivotal movement only in a horizontalplane as illustrated in the drawings.

Upon momentarily energizing. solenoid 12, bar 20 moves to its extendedposition. By pivoting around rod 21.", the end of bar 20" adjacent aretracted arm 14 pivots with this arm and magnet 31 does not move closeenough to armature 30 to overcome the force of spring 18 of the extendedactuator. Thus, bar 20 remains in its extended .position, and bar 20"ormagnet 30 must be retracted by a cam or other mechanical device actingdirectly. on the bar, or both arms 14 must be retracted by cams engagingboth rollers 27 in order to move bar 20" to retracted position where itmay be latched by magnet 31 and armature 30.

It should be noted that with the exception of the holding switch 10 inthe embodiment of FIGURES 1-4, the electrical switches may be eitheropen or closed when Magnet 31is moved sufiiciently far fromtheirrespective actuators are extended, and in the opposite position when theactuators are retracted.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

I claim:

1. A switching device comprising: a plurality oi switches operablebetween open and closed positions; actuators, one associated with eachswitch, each actuator being movable between retracted' and extendedpositions for operating the associated switch; means urging eachactuator individually to oneof said positions; follower means on eachactuator for cooperating with an independent mechanical device to moveeach actuator individually to'the other of said positions to operate theswitch; a retainer movable between retracted and extended positions andbearing on the actuators to selectively retain them all in said other ofsaidpositions orrelease them for movement to said one position. so thatthey may be individually moved by an independent. mechanical device fromsaid one position to said other position; means urging said retainertoward a first of said positions; and means for moving said retainer tothe second of said positions.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the actuator urgingmeans andtheretainer urging means act in opposite directions, and the retainermoving means moves the retainer to said other of said posit-ions.

3; Thedevice of claim 2v in which each actuator urging means urges theassociated actuator to extended position, the retainer urging meansurges the retainer to retracted position, and the retainer moving meansmoves the retainer to extended position.

4. An electromechanical switching device comprising: a rigid bodyincluding switch housings containing electrical switch contacts.operable between open and. closed positions and a solenoid having aplunger; actuators, one mounted on each switch housing for movementbetween retracted and extended positions for operating the switchcontacts; a retainer bar connected with said plunger for movementbetween retracted and extended positions responsive to operation of saidsolenoid, said bar extending across each actuator outwardly of therespective switch housing to selectively retain said actuators all inretracted position or release them for individual movement betweentheirretracted and extended positions; means urging; said actuatorsindividually to extended positions and into engagement with said bar;retracting means urging saidbar toward retracted position; and meansincluding said solenoid for moving said bar to extendedposition.

5. An electromechanical switching device comprising: a rigid bodyincluding switch housings containing electrical switch contacts operablebetween open and closed positions and a solenoid having a plunger;actuators, one for each switch housing, each actuator having anarm'pivoted to the housing and movable between retracted and extended.positions for operating the switch contactsga retainer bar connectedwith said plunger for movement between retracted and extended positionsresponsive to opera,- tion of said solenoid, said bar extending acrosseach arm outwardly of the respective switch. housing, to selectivelyretain them all in retracted position or release them for individualmovement between their retracted and extended positions; springs, onefor each actuator, between the actuator arm and respective switchhousing and urging the arm to extended position and into engagement withsaid bar, retracting means urging said bar toward retracted position;and means including said solenoid for moving said bar to extendedposition.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said solenoid is energized for movingsaid retainer to extended position, and one of said switches is closedwhen its actuator is extended and provides a holding circuit forretaining said solenoid energized.

secured to said bar and said retracting means comprises a permanentmagnet.

10. The device of claim 5 in which said bar is nonmagnetic and saidplunger is rigidly secured to said bar by a non-magnetic rod, and saidretracting means comprises a magnetic armature on said body and apermanent magnet secured to an outer face of said bar so that the barprovides a gap between said permanent magnet and said armature.

11. The device of claim 5 in which said plunger is hinged to said bar,and said retracting means comprises a magnet.

12. The device of claim 5 in which said bar is non- 6 magnetic and saidplunger has a non-magnetic rod hinged to said bar, and said retractingmeans comprises a permanent magnet secured to an outer face of said barso that the bar provides a gap between said permanent magnet and saidarmature.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,579,172 12/1951Bordelon 20087 2,786,916 3 1957 Bordelon 20087 2,803,719 8/1957 McDonald20087 3,047,167 7/ 1962 Rose 20018 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

MAX L. LEVY, ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Examiners.

1. A SWITCHING DEVICE COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF SWITCHES OPERABLEBETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS; ACTUATORS, ONE ASSOCIATED WITH EACHSWITCH, EACH ACTUATOR BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN RETRACTED AND EXTENDEDPOSITIONS FOR OPERATING THE ASSOCIATE SWITCH; MEANS URGING EACH ACTATORINDIVIDUALLY TO ONE OF SAID POSITIONS; FOLLOWER MEANS ON EACH ACTUATORFOR COOPERATING WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICAL DEVICE TO MOVE EACHACTUATOR INDIVIDUALLY TO THE OTHER OF SAID POSITONS TO OPERATE THESWITCH; A RETAINER MOVABLE BETWEEN RETRACED AND EXTENDED POSITIONS ANDBEARING ON THE ACTUATORS TO SELECTIVELY RETAIN THEM ALL IN SAID OTHER OFSAID POSITIONS OR RELEASE THEM FOR MOVEMENT TO SAID ONE POSITION SO THATTHEY MAY BE INDIVIDUALLY MOVED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICAL DEVICE FROMSAID ONE POSITION TO SAID OTHER POSITION; MEANS URGING SAID RETAINERTOWARD A FIRST OF SAID POSITIONS; AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID RETAINER TOTHE SECOND OF SAID POSITIONS.